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Carolyn Johnson, 14-02-12 21:27:

I write this letter as an owner of a self contained motorhome and resides in Tasmania. Today we made an attempt to book our holiday in July to visit your beautiful area. We would boost the local economy by purchasing fuel and food visit restaurants pubs and local tourist attractions thus keeping a local in a job. I made a phone call to book a powered site at the local caravan park to be told only 7 powered sites available and another sadly not taking bookings May - October as was booked out.... now it being February its laughable .. I ask this question.... Do you not want/need the monies from the Grey brigade in your community? You need to recognise and address the URGENT REQUIREMENT by offering an OVERFLOW PARK somewhere in your area perhaps a sport or show ground with monies raised from this venture assisting the local service and sporting clubs. Restrictions being TOTALLY SELF CONTAINED adhered to. Also the hire companies who rent vehicles to the BACK PACKERS without toilet facilities is a disgrace faeces and toilet paper litter the parks and road sides THIS GIVES SELF CONTAINED MOTOR VEHICLES A BAD NAME.

Steve H, 03-10-11 10:30:

We travel in a motorhome fully self contained, why would I want to pay for high priced caravan parks. we also have a small dog most caravan parks are not pet friendly and some even rude.
the council should put in free or donation areas and limit the stay time. Some one sugested clubs, what a good idea, I often stay in a club park after I ask and then have a meal and a few drinks, bringing buisiness. We always pick up rubish even if it is not our own,so if you want the buisness get the facilities in place take a look at gladstone council and learn from them, they welcome people touring around and spending their money.

jack , 01-08-11 08:33:

To all you "locals" i can remeber when port was a nice quite place with maybe 200 people without all you yuppies wreaking it.

Dian Padovan, 29-07-11 08:17:

It is not only Port Douglas that has the problem with illegial campers. They are a regular occurance in Cassowary Valley, often 3 and 4 travelling together seting up camp in a circle outside the Soccer Club. It is also common to see them camped in the headlands of cane paddocks. This is a dangerous habit, as some cane harvesters start work at 3:00am and in the dark these illegial campers are in the way and often at risk of being injured.

Lynette Bradford, 28-07-11 11:52:

This week Jalun Park looked like a laundry with campers setting up clothes lines between the palms to dry their clothes. This is not the look we need. Don't be fooled that they are bringing money to the area!

Sam Cullen , 17-07-11 18:10:

I agree with Brendan but I think its got alot to do with what we are 'not' doing ourselves. We are not demanding the respect from these visitors. Signage would be a good start, then with a resource to enforce the signage.

We have an infringement officer for this region but clearly he / she is too busy so we need another one dedicated to enforce our regulations. May only be needed for a short period as the message will travel quickly via their travel social media once in place.

We want to get the best out of these visitors as any contribution albeit as little as it may be is still positive. We just need to put a workable system in place which would involve a dedicated overnight rest area to be made available and well advertised. Once here they then must enter into one of our caravan parks or continue on.

We need to be more flexible as a community and have the ability to act when these challenges occur not pull out the old lets open a can of whip ass on them. We are notoriously sluggish in this department, a matter to take up with CRC. As for the poll neither option is the answer.

Brendon wright, 17-07-11 17:06:

I have spent many hours at the 4mile end of the beach picking up rubbish and putting out fires on the beach that were simply covered with sand. At times over the years there has been as many as 30 camper vans almost filling up 4mile park. Having set up cloths lines, chairs and not moving for some time days on end. I asked them to clean up their rubbish, i was laughed at and even told F%&# off. I had spoken to local police, who at the time said they had no powers to move them on. also saying that it fell into the hands of Cairns council. But never once had i ever seen any being moved on. I think that it is about time that this issue should be addressed. Also that it is only fair to any one your pays rates and taxes these people should have to pay their way to! There are plenty of affordible camp grounds in the area, it is only fair to every one else that should do the right thing.

Barbara and+Brian Lee, 17-07-11 15:04:

I understand that there are empty sites available at other parks, the travelers should go there. They try to enter caravan parks for a shower without paying. Why should we pay for facilities and the illegal campers try to use for free. Caravaner Port Douglas

Steve and+Cec Hughes, 17-07-11 08:54:

I dont think its right that they should park/camp illegally, however there should be a rest stop where people can go and stay for the night. Like someone said before, alot of these travellers have been on the road of hours and the last thing they need is to have to pay for somewhere to sleep, they are travelling in a campervan! They already have somewhere to sleep!!!

jason pearce, 16-07-11 20:18:

i think that there should be free overnight stay at 4 mile park where the toilets and bbqs are

susan , 16-07-11 16:13:

Nothing is free in life and going on a holiday costs money. Residents pay high prices for homes and high rate costs especially near the beach and the parks so they may enjoy peaceful living and do not want these areas trashed and bespoiled by freeloaders. To suggest free camping/overnighting is ridiculous as everything costs. Who will clean up, who will regulate, monitor, oversee, clean toilet facilities.??? Can you imagine what it would look like after only a few days without this?? Get real. A big problem is that the JUCY, Britz and Wicked van companies etc are pushing their vans by suggesting that hirers will save accom costs by using their vehicles, instead of advising correctly. They contribute nothing and cost the ratepayers.

John Rose, 16-07-11 10:05:

They say if you get stuck with a 'lemon' then make 'lemonade'. These people should be welcomed and directed to somewhere safe where they can spend the night/s and spend with the locals. It is a proven fact that these people spend more than the average fly in/fly out tourist.
We need every cent now. Nothing is more chronic than a wasted opportunity under the guise that these people are second class campers.

Peter Graham, 15-07-11 19:58:

Illegal Campers cause major problems for residents who pay for their own facility, these troublemaking camper cheapskates are a minority that disrupt the community & many decent homeowners & citizens for their own selfish freeloading, simply, they are bludgers!

Peter Graham, 15-07-11 18:57:

Karen , 15-07-11 18:13:

I think there should be designated "free camping" site. I would love to know which caravan park charges $10 per night???? I don't think so. Caravan parks are so expensive these days and I have a fully self-contained motorhome and there is nothing I need at a caravan park. It's not right though if these people are leaving rubbish and not using toilets...that spoils it for everyone!

Barry McCarthy, 15-07-11 17:49:

Gday looks like no big deal when only 68 people voted. A few years ago the Mossman Show ground was open for camping but for one night. Think about the tide van and 4WD drivers who need a rest for road safety we need to give them a rest spot if the van parks are full.Barry PD

Jess , 15-07-11 17:37:

I don't mind people needing somewhere to stay and rest, but when I wake up in the morning and there is a van on my nature strip with people having their communal catch up and coffee, I'm not Ok with the situation. Perhaps if the local clubs need some financial assistance they could offer their carparks and toilet blocks for a small fee.

Anthony Renwick , 14-07-11 16:55:

Traveled from here to Kangaroo Island this is the only place in a 7000 km trip that there was no over night rest/camp ground fortunately I live here . Pretty poor form when you consider how much tourists mean in a town that has no other form of income even of they only shop at the IGA and buy fuel it's keeping a local in a job

Sandra Lee, 13-07-11 09:22:

A good overflow site would be Reynolds park next door to Kulauh Caravan Park between the tennis courts and the CWA hall on Davidson ST, I'm not sure if there are toilets already at the tennis courts.

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Wednesday 13 July 2011

Illegal camping hits record numbers

By Kerry Larsen

Illegal camping within the Douglas region is still far from being rectified with record numbers of campers being caught at the weekend and the number of complaints rising.

On Saturday night, 23 vehicles were found by Port Douglas Police parked illegally at various locations – the majority at Rex Smeal Park and numerous at Jalun Park, the Port Douglas boat ramp and Port Douglas Surf Club carparks, Four Mile Beach Park, Solander Boulevard and Mowbray Valley Road.

At 5pm on Monday, six camper vans had set up for the night at Rex Smeal Park, with another four at Four Mile Beach Park and numerous others searching for an elusive position.

Port Douglas Police Officer-in-charge Sergeant Damian Meadows said illegal campers were violating the right to residents’ peaceful existence and were creating a nuisance.

“Although these campers bring money into the local economy, the impact they have on the right to a peaceful existence is not good,” he said.

“For example, people who have paid millions of dollars for property at Solander Boulevard don’t want to be looking at illegal campers parked at the toilet block there.

“And the problem goes further. Littering becomes an issue, noise is created with van doors sliding open and closed constantly, and on Sunday morning, Rex Smeal Park smelled of urine.”

Do you think illegal camping is a problem? Vote now in The Newsport Poll (left)

Sergeant Meadows says while the Queensland Police Service didn’t have the legislative power to charge them with illegal camping, it was an offence under Council by-laws to camp illegally.

“Council officers work during office hours and aren’t going to be called out at 10 o’clock at night,” he said. “We’re currently trying to negotiate with Council to come up with a solution to the problems we’re currently experiencing.

“But it only costs about $10 a night for an unpowered site in a caravan park, and goodness knows our local businesses need as much revenue as they can at the moment.”

Meanwhile, caravan park operators are feeling the impact of a busy July school holiday period, with powered sites booked out well in advance.

Jean Seyffer, who is in Port Douglas on a temporary basis as co-manager of Tropic Breeze Caravan Park on Davidson Street, says she had turned away 20 campers on Monday due to unavailability of powered sites, but had a number of unpowered campsites left.

Mrs Seyffer said camping facilities fell well short of demand within Port Douglas, with the town’s three van parks and Dougies Backpackers struggling to keep up with the flow of visitors since the Four Mile Caravan Park closed in the early 2000s.

“You really do need another option in Port Douglas for campers, whether it’s another caravan park or an overflow arrangement,” she said.

“The amount of grey nomads (retirees traveling by motorhome or caravan) is growing and not everyone wants to book a hotel or apartment.”

Mrs Seyffer, who comes from Alice Springs, says that while many people came to Port Douglas for its good weather during the winter months, not all travelers were catered for.

“We would love to return here one day, but we know there’ll be no caravan park sites left in the tourist season, so we’ll know to stay away,” she said.

“The council really needs to consider another option, even if a toilet block was built at Reynolds Park and charged a few dollars per night.”